The world of professional wrestling is often a whirlwind of unexpected turns, and the story of veteran referee Mike Chioda’s potential AEW run is a prime example.
After a shocking mass release by WWE on April 15, 2020, which saw over 100 employees let go, Chioda found himself exploring new avenues. One such avenue was All Elite Wrestling, where he had previously made sporadic appearances, including a sudden booking for AEW Double Or Nothing in 2020.
In a conversation with Ben Veal, Chioda revealed that former AEW executive Cody Rhodes had expressed a strong interest in bringing him on board. Rhodes envisioned Chioda playing a pivotal role in training the company’s referees, offering him the choice of part-time or full-time employment. Chioda, eager to contribute his vast experience, opted for a full-time position, stating, “I’ll work full-time. I still got some gas in the tank, you know, I still got a little left in me.”
However, despite Rhodes’ initial enthusiasm, the opportunity didn’t materialize as planned. “And uh, it actually didn’t pan out, though. But they ended up calling me back for one show or this and that,” Chioda explained.
The story took another interesting turn when AEW held their All In event at London’s Wembley Stadium. Chioda disclosed that he received a call from Dean Malenko regarding the event, but again, it didn’t lead to a significant role. Adding a layer of intrigue to the situation, Chioda recounted a peculiar question from Malenko: “Well, did you ever work in London before?”
Chioda found this question particularly strange, given his prior experience working in London back in 1992. “Well, yeah, well, I worked in 1992 in London. That was my first biggest show ever done, you know,” he responded.
While it remains unclear which of the two AEW All In events at Wembley Stadium (2023 or 2024) Chioda was considered for, the narrative paints a picture of a missed opportunity.